How to troubleshoot Clipboard problems in Windows 7

The Clipboard utility on my Dell Windows 7 PC regularly fills up and stops working. In the past, restarting the machine would fix the problem. It now refuses to work after adding only one or two items to it.

What to check when the Clipboard stops working

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QUESTION The Clipboard utility on my Dell Windows 7 PC regularly fills up and stops working. In the past, restarting the machine would fix the problem. It now refuses to work after adding only one or two items to it.Patrick Lowin

HELPROOM ANSWER We’ve seen several complaints online about Windows 7’s Clipboard behaving incorrectly. If you haven’t already done so, you should first install Windows 7 Service Pack 1. This is available via Windows Update.

The Clipboard running out of space could be an indicator of low hard-disk space or not enough system RAM. You should treat 2GB as the minimum amount of RAM required for Windows 7 to function correctly; a hard drive upgrade – or moving some items on to an external drive – may also be in order if you’re running low on disk space.

Also note that there’s more than one Clipboard. Windows’ utility can hold only one item, whereas the Office Clipboard can hold up to 24. Several free Clipboard managers are also available.

If you’re still experiencing problems, more information will be required for diagnosis.